Self-service footwear merchandising device



Dec. 20, 1966 M. BERK SELF-SERVICE FOOTWEAR MERCHANDISING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21. 1965 ATTORNE Y.

United States Patent 3,292,797 SELF-SERVICE FOOTWEAR MERCHANDISINGDEVICE Milton Berk, Simons, Simons & Simons, 1655 NW. th Ave., Miami,Fla. 33136 Filed May 21, 1965, Ser. No. 457,591 7 Claims. (Cl. 211-163)My invention relates to footwear merchandising rack fixtures of the typehaving self-service shoe try-on features. Such self-service displayunits are described in my copending patent application Serial No.383,400, filed July 17, 1964, now Patent No. 3,229,819, and titledSelf-Service Footwear Merchandising Display Unit. The present inventionrelates to improvements in such display units or rack fixtures.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a self-servicefootwear display rack fixture of the above nature which will occupy aminimum of floor space while at the same time providing both for instanttry-on for size and for the support and display in front of the customerof a wide range of footwear styles, sizes and colors for ready selectiononce size has been determined.

A more particular object is to provide a self-service footwear displayrack fixture of the above nature which not only is compact, but whichcomprises a rotary rack member and a try-on base member each of which isreadily selectively movable by the customer while standing at oneposition in front of the display unit, whereby it is especially wellsuited for use in corners for economical display and self-merchandisingin stores having or making available only limited floor space.

Yet another object is to provide a footwear self-service merchandisingdevice of the character described comprising a circular supportstructure rotatably supported above which is a vertically-extending,elongated, columnar, rack member of square cross-section presenting fourverticallyarranged sides or panels against which the displayed footwearis supported for self-service selection, and including a conicalplatform rotatably arranged with respect to the support structure belowthe rack member and having fixed thereupon, in circumferentially-spacedrelation, a plurality of sample shoes of the various sizes on displayfor tryon use by the customer in the self-determination of size to beselected.

Yet another object is to provide a footwear self-service merchandisingrack fixture of the above nature which will be simple in construction,attractive in appearance and use, and exceptionally well suited toself-service merchandising in the impulse sale of inexpensive footwearin supermarkets, department stores, drug stores and the like retailestablishments having high density traflic.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In

the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding partsthroughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a self-service footwearmerchandising device embodying the invention, shown stocked withfootwear for purchaser selection;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1,shown separately and on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and illustrates, in top view, therotary try-on base member;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 ofFIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating constructionaldetails of the try-on base member;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along "ice the line5-5 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and illustratingconstructional details of the rotary rack member; and

FIG. 6 illustrates, in vertical cross-section, a modified form ofdisplay unit embodying the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 in FIGS. 1 through 5designates one form of a footwear merchandising display unit embodyingmy invention the same being comprised, generally, of a support structure11, a vertical display rack member 12 rotatably supported above saidsupport structure, and a conical try-on base member 13 arranged oversaid support structure and independently rotatable with respect thereto.

The support structure 11 comprises a circular pedestal member 14,preferably in the shape of a shallow pan and formed of a heavy materialsuch as cast iron for stability, and having a central hub portion 15 ofincreased thickness. The pedestal hub portion 15 is provided with anaxial bore 16, pipe-threaded to receive securely affixed therein a shortlength of upstanding pipe 17.

The display rack member 12 comprises square top and bottom plates 18,1-9, respectively, fixed against the upper and lower ends ofvertically-extending corner stiles 20 to form a framework securedagainst the sides of which, as by gluing or by the use of wood screws,are elongated panels 21, preferably of a perforated hard board commonlyknown as peg-board. A decorative molding 22 is secured against the edgesof the top plate 18 adjacent the upper ends of the panels 21. As bestillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, corner molding strips 23 are securedagainst the longitudinal meeting edges or corners of the panels 21, saidstrips being coextensive with said panels. The lower ends of the panels21 extend somewhat beyond the outer "surface of thet bottom plate 19, asillustrated in FIG. 2. Centrally located against the underside of thebottom plate 19 is a circular flange 24 having a central,axially-extending opening fixed within which is a length of pipe 25. Thepipe 25 is of such external diameter as to fit slidingly Within theupstanding pipe 17 of the support structure 11, and is received thereinfor rotatably supporting thedisplay rack member 12 with respect to saidsupport structure. The underside of the rack member flange 24 seatsagainst the upper end of the support structure pipe 17 to support therack member 12 is a predetermined position above the support structure11. V

The try-on base member 13 is conical in form, preferably beingfabricated of a somewhat flexible material, such as a flexiblecomposition structural sheet material, cut and bent or formed or moldedinto a conical member 26 braced at the inside by a plurality ofradiallyextending strips or ribs 27 of wood, for example, glued orotherwise alfixed against the inner surface (see FIG. 4). The conicalmember 26 is provided with a central cirou lar opening 28 of such sizeas to freely receive the upstanding pipe 17 of the support structure 11,over which it fits. Three or more of the radial strips 27 are fitted attheir outer or lower ends with gliders 29 (only two shown in FIG. 2),preferably of the rotating ball type, to permit easy rotation of thetry-on base member 13 with respect to the floor surface on which itrests. As is best illustrated in FIG. 3, the upper surface of theconical try-on base member 13 has fixed thereupon, in radially-extendingdisposition and equidistantly circularly-spaced thereabout, a pluralityof shoes 30, one each of the various sizes of footwear on sale, in sizeorder.

A11 advertising sign 31 may conveniently be attached -at the upper endof the display rack member 12 as by a support bracket 32 secured againstthe upper surface of the display rack member top plate 18.

Means is provided for supporting and displaying footwear forself-service purchase on the elongated panels '42 used for illuminationof the sign 37.

- the books of each column being equidistantly spaced and in horizontalalignment with hooks of adjacent columns to provide a regular displaypattern. The hooks 33 are formed at their inner ends with forked,off-set attachment means 34 adapted to -fit into a pair of side-by-side,adjacent perforations in the elongated pegboard panels 21, for removableattachment thereto. Such hook attachment means is known in the art .andis not claimed herein as novel in and of itself.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the displayed footwear arepackaged in transparent bags prominently marked with shoe size. Thus theself-service purchaser, immediately after having determined shoe size byfitting the foot in one or more of the try-on shoes 30 as the conicaltry-on'base member 13 is rotated by the foot as may be necessary tobring various ones of the try-on shoes into front position, need onlyglance up along the displayed shoe columns to reach the level of thesize needed, after which selection as to color or style can readily bemade by rotating the display rack member 12 to examine all types of thatsize displayed for sale. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a toothed disc35 is secured, as by welding, at the pipe 17 just above the hub portion15 of the circular pedestal member 14, between the teeth of which oneend of a flat detent spring 36 extends, the othe end of said springbeing secured to one of the rib strips 27 of the try-on base member 13.The action of the spring 36 in skipping over the toothed disc 35 as thetry-on base member 13 is rotated serves to retard its speed of rotationso that the purchaser can more readily selectively position try-on shoesof various size to the front, and so that there will be a certain amountof resistance to turning while the foot is being fitted in a try-onshoe.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of the invention permitting electriclighting, through central wiring in the display rack member 12a, of anadvertising sign 37 in fixed position thereabove. In this embodiment,the circular base member 14a is of greater diameter than that of thetry-on base member 13 so that said base member 13 rides upon the uppersurface thereof rather than directly upon the floor as in the embodimentof the invention ilustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5. This an electricalcord 38 to run under the base member 14a, through a suitable openingtherein, and up through a long support pipe 39 to the upper end of whichis secured a flange 40 carrying the sign 37. The flange 40 also supportsa horizontal bracket 41 supporting electric lamps The top and bottomframe plates 18a, 19a of the display rack member 12a are formed withcentral openings 43, 44 through which the pipe 39 extends. The bottomplate 18b seats against a collar 45 secured on the pipe 39 near thelower end thereof. With this construction it will be apparent that thetry-on base member 13 and the display rack member 12a can bothbe-rotated without interfering with the electrical wiring for the lamps42 and without tuming the sign 37. Operation and use is otherwise thesame as is described above in connection with the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5.

While I have illustrated and described herein only two forms in which myinvention can conveniently be emlbodied in practice, it is to beunderstood that these forms are given by way of example only, and not ina limiting sense. My invention, in brief, comprises all the embodimentsand modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the followingclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut is:

1. In a self-service footwear mechandising device, the combinationcomprising, a support structure, an elongated display rack member, meansfor rotatably supporting said display rack member is spaced relationwith respect to her being of conical shape and disposed in enclosingre-.

and above said support structure for rotation about its longitudinalaxis, a circular try-on base member, means i for rotatably supportingsaid try-on base member between said support structure and said displayrack mem- 1 her for rotation about a central axis common with therotational axis of said display rack member, a plurality ture compriinga pedestal member, said'try-on base memlation on said support structurepedestal member, the peripheral edge of said try-on base memberincluding antifriction means for free movement over a fixed flatsurface.

2. A self-service footwear merchandising device as defined in claim 1wherein said support structure pedestal member is of greater size thanthe diameter of said tryon base member and provides a fixed flat surfaceupon which said try-on base member can rotate.

3. A self-service footwear merchandising device as defined in claim 1wherein said means for rotatably supporting said display rack member andsaid means for rotatably supporting said try-on base member comprises afirst pipe centrally aflixed to said support structure pedestal member,and a second pipe telescopingly received with respect to said first pipeand fixed with respect to the underside of.

said display rack member.

4. A self-service footwear merchandising device as defined in claim 3wherein said spring-actuated detent means comprises a toothed wheelcoaxially fixed with respect to said first pipe and a leaf springsecured at one end with respect to the inside of said conical try-onbase member and 1 having its other end in sliding engagement withrespectto the peripheral teeth of said toothed wheel.

5. A self-service footwear merchandising device as defined in claim 1wherein said means for rotatably supporting said display rack member andsaid means for rotatably supporting said try-on base member comprises apipe centrally aflixed to said support structure pedestal mern her, andmean for journalling the opposite endsof said elongated display rackmember on said pipe for rota tion about said pipe as an axis.

'6. A self-service footwear merchandising device as dew fined in claim 5wherein said support structure pedestal member is of greater size thanthe diameter of said tryon base member and provides a fixed flat surfaceupon which said try-on base member can rotate.

7. A self-service footwear merchandising device astdeifined in claim 6wherein said spring-actuated detent means comprises a toothed wheelcoaxially fixed with respect to said pipe and a leaf spring secured atone end with respect to the inside of said conical try-on base memberand having its other end in sliding engagement with respect to theperipheral teeth of said toothed wheel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CLAUDE A. LE ROY,Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A SELF-SERVICE FOOTWEAR MECHANDISING DEVICE, THE COMBINATIONCOMPRISING, A SUPPORT STRUCTURE, AN ELONGATED DISPLAY RACK MEMBER, MEANSFOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID DISPLAY RACK MEMBER IS SPACED RELATIONWITH RESPECT TO AND ABOVE SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITSLONGITUDINAL AXIS, A CIRCULAR TRY-ON BASE MEMBER, MEANS FOR ROTATABLYSUPPORTING SAID TRY-ON BASE MEMBER BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE ANDSAID DISPLAY RACK MEMBER FOR ROTATION ABOUT A CENTRAL AXIS COMMON WITHTHE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF SAID DISPLAY RACK MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF SHOES OFVARIOUS SIZES FIXED IN CIRCULARLY-SPACED RELATION UPON SAID TRY-ON BASEMEMBER FOR CUSTOMER TRY-ON TO DETERMINE SIZE, SAID DISPLAY RACK MEMBERCOMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SIDE PANELS, AND MEANS ADAPTED TO SUPPORTPAIRS OF SHOES OF THE TYPE AND SIZES OF SAID PLURALITY OF SHOES AGAINSTEACH OF SAID SIDE PANELS, SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PEDESTALMEMBER, SAID TRY-ON BASE MEMBE BEING OF CONICAL SHAPE AND DISPOSED INENCLOSING RELATION ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE PEDESTAL MEMBER, THEPERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID TRY-ON BASE MEMBER INCLUDING ANTIFRICTION MEANSFOR FREE MOVEMENT OVER A FIXED FLAT SURFACE.